The Frankfurt Book Fair welcomed a prominent Spanish delegation, highlighting the country’s publishing industry as a central cultural force. In this year’s edition, Spain’s guest of honor paired with a royal visit from King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, who arrived as Germany hosted a state visit to mark a milestone after a quarter of a century. The scene reflected a shared moment between two nations and a bilateral emphasis on literary exchange. The German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, greeted the royals as ceremonies opened and the fair began its busy week of exhibitions and talks.
The king and queen attended the opening events on Tuesday and walked through the exhibition halls the next morning, taking in the stands with calm curiosity. Broadcasts and regional publishers alike lined their route as the royal couple toured the fair. By ten o’clock, their journey continued through the Asturias pavilion before moving on to Catalonia where Patrici Tixis, president of Gremi d’Editors, spoke with them for several minutes. He stressed the importance of public‑private cooperation in selling Spanish publications abroad and noted that Catalonia contributes a substantial portion of Spain’s editorial output, underscoring the region’s influence in the industry. The monarchs listened closely and nodded in acknowledgment.
Before departing, Tixis shared a moment about a dedication request for the Catalan author Sergio Vila-Sanjuan. He proposed that the book be inscribed for both royals, which sparked a lighthearted exchange about who should receive the dedication. Someone from the stand joked, I’ll hold this, and the surrounding entourage laughed as the moment faded into a shared memory from the visit.
The one‑hour visit offered a chance for the royal couple to refresh their impressions of the publishers’ libraries. Frankfurt offered them a small gift by way of souvenirs: nineteen books and a CD representing a cross section of Spanish and international literature. The selection ranged from Antonio Lorente’s illustrated edition of Adventures of Tom Sawyer to Elia Barceló’s The Frankenstein Effect, the latter notably selected for the couple’s daughter, Sofia. A copy of Miguel Hernández’s life and poetry, published by Edebé, accompanied the gifts on the journey back to Madrid.
Books by Grandes and Garcia Montero
At the Tusquets booth, Letizia expressed interest in a posthumous novel by Almudena Grandes. The publisher’s editor‑in‑chief, Juan Cerezo, handed a copy to Her Majesty. He also presented what was described as the last of Grandes’ poems. Nearby, a portrait of Luis García Montero, the Cervantes Institute director, drew Letizia’s attention to a collection titled One Year and Three Months. Felipe VI offered a suggestion to encourage García Montero to sign the work, and the king and queen engaged with Montero’s delegation as they moved along the stands. Letizia reaffirmed her enjoyment of reading, thanking Cerezo and speaking with evident affection about having already read the work aloud at home.
The day’s chatter carried political undertones alongside cultural ones. As the royal party entered a Spanish pavilion, a woman approached with a sincere plea and declared she would pray for them. The moment was noted by observers as a reminder of the broad spectrum of responses a royal visit can evoke both within Europe and beyond. Sylvie Faÿ, communications director for a French publishing house, offered a reflective comment on the weight of responsibility carried by the royals and the significance of presenting a united front in fostering cultural and educational ties across the continent. Her remarks were shared in a broader context of Europe’s attention on the diplomacy and narrative presented by Spain during a moment of renewed cultural exchange.